Biz Students Go for Gold

FAIRFIELD — Several business-minded undergraduates at Fairfield University had the chance to pitch their entrepreneurial ideas and compete for cash to help develop them during the university’s Business Plan Competition. Held in April, the event resulted in a total of $20,000 being distributed the winning teams. Students, who worked with alumni mentors, had the choice of competing in one of two tracks, venture or social. Taking home the top prize of $7,000 in the venture track were seniors Jennifer Le, Gina Biondi and Jessica Mendes, whose “VentureOut” app facilitates networking meet-ups for young professionals. The social-track top prize, which carried a cash award of $5,000, went to Robert Garrone, Ralph Belfiore, Bernardo Navarro, Stephanie Sutherby and Michael Raymond. The team impressed the judges with its BoneSmart device, a wearable, noninvasive medical tool designed to measure blood flow and bone density. “These student teams showed that entrepreneurism and innovation is alive and well at Fairfield,” said Donald E. Gibson, dean of the university’s Dolan School of Business. “Our quest is to develop these ideas into viable businesses.” The students will receive developmental guidance through the Fairfield University Accelerator & Mentoring Enterprise, the school’s business incubator located in downtown Fairfield, Gibson said.